With a largely unproven game manager at the helm of Houston’s offense, the Rockets’ outlook as true Western Conference contenders seems somewhat murky. <\/p>\n
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Prior to the injury, however, Houston looked like legitimate threats to the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the revamped Denver Nuggets.<\/p>\n
Led by All-Star center Alperen Sengun, All-Defensive Team wing Amen Thompson, and rising forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, last year’s Rockets nabbed a 52-30 record and the No. 2 seed in the West. They fell in the first round.<\/p>\n
More news: Veteran All-Star Announces Sudden Retirement From NBA, Joins Media<\/a><\/p>\n These additions \u2014 along with the team’s decisions to re-sign VanVleet and another backup center, Steven Adams \u2014 fully installed the pre-VanVleet ACL tear Rockets as inner circle title contenders. <\/p>\n The Rockets offloaded starting wings Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, the No. 10 pick in this year’s draft (used on Duke center Khaman Maluach) and five future second-round picks to the Phoenix Suns for 15-time All-Star power forward Kevin Durant as part of a seven-team mega-trade. Houston also signed 3-and-D combo forward Dorian Finney-Smith to a four-year, $52.7 million free agent deal and brought in vets Clint Capela and Josh Okogie. <\/p>\n Although that may not be the case anymore, the Rockets are still thinking about their immediate future.<\/p>\n Per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line<\/a>, Houston is expected to reach a contract extension agreement with Durant, 37.<\/p>\n Loading twitter content…<\/p>\n “The belief persists that Durant, meanwhile, will eventually land a contract extension from his new team. He’s eligible to sign a two-year extension with the Rockets for a maximum $122 million,” writes Fischer.<\/p>\n In 62 healthy bouts for the 36-46 Suns, Durant averaged 26.6 points on .527\/.430\/.839 shooting splits, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 0.8 steals a night.<\/p>\n Eason, too, is eligible for his own extension of his rookie deal. Should Houston not come to terms on an extension with Eason’s reps, he’ll reach restricted free agency next summer.<\/p>\n “Less clear is whether the Rockets and Tari Eason can come to terms on a rookie-scale contract before the parties’ Oct. 20 deadline on the night before Houston opens the regular season as Oklahoma City’s Ring Night visiting foe,” Fischer adds.<\/p>\n